Forestry Workgroup Draft 2020 Workplan Overview Big picture work items anticipated in 2020: 1) The FWG will continue working with CBP leadership to engineer a new Bay Buffer program with the TMDL and climate change as drivers and conservation finance as a tool. 2) The Chesapeake Forest Restoration Strategy update will be completed and used as the basis of a Shared Stewardship Agreement among the Bay States and federal agencies (planned). 3) A conservation finance proposal for afforestation (buffers and tree canopy) will be produced. 4) The second review for Riparian Forest Buffers—part of the strategic review system (SRS) — will be conducted resulting in an updated Management Strategy and 2-year Workplan. 5) The USFS funding for Bay partners is down (budget to be released in March). However, a new round of funding from Farm Service Agency and USFS for Chesapeake riparian foresters is being negotiated. 6) Progress reporting toward our primary indicators (buffers, forest conservation, tree canopy) will be re-worked with new Bay Program data (land use change analysis and CAST). 7) Forest Fragmentation Analysis conducted. 8) FWG partners pursue funding to pilot Bay Buffer Program. 9) Updates on Verification of forestry practices. Timeline/Events • Forest Financing February webinar mini-series • Innovative NFWF pre-proposals due Feb 28 • Buffer Action Team goes before the Principal Staff Committee (January and April) • PA Riparian Forest Buffer Summit (March 11-12) • Chesapeake Forest Restoration Strategy Update completed (April) • Chesapeake Bay Program Conservation Finance Forum (March 12) • Environment Virginia (March 31-April 2) • Earth Day-Arbor Day (April 22-24) • State Forestry Association Centennial Celebration at the National Arboretum (May 6) • High-Level Shared Stewardship Agreement (based on Strategy) (May or July) • Joint Meeting with LUWG (June) • Chesapeake Community Research Symposium (June 8-10) • Northeast Midwest State Forester Alliance Annual Meeting (July 13-16) • Strategic Review (SRS) of Riparian Forest Buffer Management Strategy (~June-October) ➢ STAR dry-run presentation on July 23; MB Quarterly Progress Meeting August 13 • Call for Chesapeake Forest Champions (September) • Chesapeake Bay Program Office move (~October) • Chesapeake Watershed Forum (November) Tentative FWG Meeting Schedule: February 5- conference call March 4- conference call April 1- In-person meeting, location TBD May 6- conference call June 3- In-person meeting (possible joint meeting with LUWG, location TBD) August 5- conference call September 2- conference call October 7- In-person meeting, location TBD November 4- conference call December 2- In-person meeting, location TBD .